Portugal vs Nigeria Predictions

• Nigeria are unbeaten in their last 12 games
• Portugal have lost just one of their last 12 matches
• There have been over 2.5 goals in four of Nigeria’s last five matches

Testing final workout for Portugal

At 26th in the FIFA world rankings, Nigeria are one of the most notable absentees from the first 48-team World Cup finals, but they should still provide a stern test for Portugal, who are among the favourites to lift the trophy.

The teams meet in Leiria, Portugal, on Wednesday night before the hosts head off for the finals and the African side should be fresher as they have not been in action since a 2-2 draw against Poland in Warsaw last Wednesday, while Roberto Martinez’s team played a tough friendly against Chile on Saturday. They won 2-1, but their night was made more strenuous by having to play the final 45 minutes with ten men after one player from each side was sent off in added time of the first half.

Nigeria missed out on the finals after losing a shootout to DR Congo in a playoff but they have not lost in 90 minutes in 2026, so they are not likely to roll over easily, and the preference is to back over 2.5 goals, which has landed in four of Nigeria’s last five games.

Send-off match could be entertaining

Portugal scored 20 goals in their six World Cup qualifying matches and have no shortage of attacking talent with Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and Joao Neves making up one of the best Midfields heading to the finals.

Nigeria are capable of getting on the scoresheet too, having scored at least two goals in five consecutive outings. Portugal looked on course to keep a clean sheet against Chile but conceded a late goal and they even conceded once when thrashing Armenia 9-1 in their final qualifier.

Portugal’s quality and home advantage means they could bring Nigeria’s unbeaten run to an end and a 2-1 win for the hosts looks a reasonable option.